| Popis: |
Pre-Construct Archaeology were commissioned by Perfect Circle, on behalf of Northumberland County Council, to undertake an archaeological evaluation on land at Newsham, Northumberland. This work was undertaken as part of the proposed Northumberland Line from Ashington to Newcastle where several new stations are to be built along its length. The proposed station at Newsham covers approximately 8 hectares of land and includes the construction of car parks to the east and west of the existing railway line. Four phases of activity were encountered: Phase 1: Superficial geology; Phase 2: undated archaeological features (Iron age/Roman-British); Phase 3: Post-medieval agricultural features and Phase 5: modern deposits. Superficial geological deposits (Phase 1) were encountered in all trenches and comprised firm mid yellowish brown boulder clay. Phase 2 comprised undated archaeological remains, likely Iron Age/Romano-British in origin, that were uncovered within Trenches 5, 6, 7 and 8. In the western field the remains of a substantial enclosure ditch were exposed in Trenches 5 and 6. Post-medieval activity (Phase 3) was uncovered in Trenches 1, 2, 3 and 6. In Trenches 1 to 3 these comprised NW/SE furrows. In Trench 6 a shallow gully was exposed at the south-western end of the trench. Those in Trenches 1 and 3 corresponded with the geophysical anomalies observed in the earlier phase of works. No archaeology was uncovered in Trenches 1-4, 8-11 and 13, apart from post-medieval features that have already been discussed in Trenches 1-3 and 6. Modern activity (Phase 4) in the form of made ground deposits were noted in Trench 4 and 13. Modern plough soil was encountered within Trenches 1-12. The geophysical anomalies within other trenches corresponded to changes in the natural geology. |
